February 5, 2013 by RVBusiness · Comments Off on Paydar Bringing Business Savvy to Best Parks

Reza Paydar

The new chairman and CEO of Best Parks in America may have operated “under the radar” in the RV park and campground sector but that era has come to an end, according to a report by Woodall’s Campground Management.

Best Parks Founder David Gorin used the “radar” analogy to refer to Reza Paydar, whom he introduced on Monday (Feb. 4) as the new lead investor in Best Parks, a 10-year-old marketing group that encompasses 70 quality parks across the nation, mostly located in the East.

Paydar is no stranger to the industry, but he “has not had a high level of visibility,” said Gorin, who will remain as Best Parks president and chief spokesman.

Yet, over the past 30 years, Paydar has garnered extensive experience in building successful RV resorts, hotel and commercial property developments as well as other types of companies.

He is known in the RV park and campground circle as a good businessman who runs a tight ship but one who maintains a low profile within the industry. His parks are members of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (CalARVC) but he does not take an active role in association activities.

However, just as he stepped up to create Sunland RV Resorts, a chain of resorts in Southern California and Florida, Paydar expects to lead Best Parks’ branding network to another level.

“I am completely excited about the opportunity to be of service and invest in the great platform David has created over the years,” Paydar said during Monday’s news conference announcing the changing of the guard.

Paydar said he wants to use the synergy that is created through the Best Parks network, whose members he termed “the best of the breed,” to enhance not only the members but the entire RV park and campground industry.

“Through this process we are hoping Best Parks in America will become a platform of opportunities for independent operators to benefit from it. Cross promotions will benefit all independent RV park owners,” he said, without fear of losing their own identity or brand.

January 30, 2013 by RVBusiness · Comments Off on Best Parks in America Adds Four New Affiliates

America's Best Campground

Best Parks in America, a national network of RV parks and campgrounds, added four new affiliated parks in Florida, Missouri, South Carolina and Arizona.

“The addition of these new parks come in popular markets where RVers enjoy visiting and we’re delighted to have new affiliates in the Tampa, Fla., metropolitan area, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Branson, Mo., and Yuma, Ariz.,” Best Parks President David Gorin stated in a news release. “As we expand we are looking towards building a network of parks in the most popular markets for RVing, camping and all kinds of outdoor recreation and hospitality.”

Facilities include:

• America’s Best Campground, Branson, Mo., gives Best Parks in America its first property in this very popular country music city. Owned by Jim and Sue Alkire, America’s Best Campground (ABC for short) has a long history of being the top-rated park in the Branson area.

• Shangri-La RV Resort in Yuma, Ariz., situated in southern Arizona paradise, caters to wintering RVers. Owned by John and Tami Heidrich, Shangri-La has been named one of the Top 100 Parks in the Good Sam network nationwide for the last three years.

• Cypress Camping Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is a boutique property in an resort area known for its large and exciting beach front RV resorts. Owned by Kenneth Hucks, the resort features year-round premium intracoastal waterway campsites and a 100 pull thru campsites with full hook ups.

The scope of a construction project can often be inferred by its cost, and Angel Fire Resort officials plan to invest more in a new RV resort than on the multi-million dollar country club they erected last year in northern New Mexico, the Sangre de Cristo Chronicle reported

The RV resort is to be built near the west entrance to Angel Fire, N.M., on Highway 64. With 260 RV sites, 109 RV storage units, 10 cabins, a full-service clubhouse, bathrooms, laundry facilities and dog runs, the 94-acre development is meant to serve RV travelers who expect a luxurious experience.

“Angel Fire Resort is committed to creating an RV hospitality experience unlike any other in North America,” said Daniel E. Rakes, general counsel for the resort. “We’re working with the top experts in RV resort development to identify the most desirable amenities, and to guarantee the best resort practices, so that we greatly exceed the expectations of today’s passionate RV travelers.”

Resort Marketing Director Dave Dekema said the project is not meant to cater to the resort’s current clientele, but it will bring a different type of vacationer to Angel Fire.

“This is a destination resort for them to bring their toys and their friends,” he said. “…This isn’t an amenity of the existing resort. The resort is investing in a completely new business here in Angel Fire.”

Rakes recently told the Village of Angel Fire Council he is confident that the project will attract people who will “nest” in Angel Fire for long periods of time. He said the resort’s RV industry consultant from Washington state advised that the industry remains strong despite increasing gas prices.

“RVers don’t really care about a dollar a gallon (increase),” he said. “They’re spending anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000 on one of those units, so that’s not a significant thing for them.”

The approved location for the RV resort is adjacent to Carson National Forest and the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. It will have its own private access to the forest, where visitors can bike, hike and ride snowmobiles. The resort is seeking the required permits for ATV trails from the U.S.Forest Service.

Living Designs Group of Taos will oversee the design of the new project. The company has worked on a variety of other large-scale New Mexico projects, such as the four-star El Monte Sagrado Resort in Taos and the country club in Angel Fire. According to an economic impact study, the development would generate $100,000 in wages paid to employees and $1,146,685.12 in various taxes during the first year.

It would generate revenues of $160 per night per RV space rented, the report states. Angel Fire Community Development Director Mark Rivera said the resort secured a zoning change for the project last year, and Dekema said resort officials hope to start work on the utilities and infrastructure this year with groundbreaking in the fall.

The Village of Angel Fire Council approved the RV resort site plan Aug. 9.

According to a press release, over the course of the next few years, the luxury park will be constructed on 94 acres of mountain meadowland with scenic views of the Angel Fire ski mountain to the south, and Mt. Wheeler, New Mexico’s tallest peak, to the north.

“Angel Fire Resort is committed to creating an RV hospitality experience unlike any other in North America,” said Daniel E. Rakes, general counsel of Angel Fire Resort. “We’re working with the top experts in RV resort development to identify the most desirable amenities, and to guarantee the best resort practices, so that we greatly exceed the expectations of today’s passionate RV travelers.”

The new RV resort will include a well-appointed private clubhouse, paved roads, fully concreted, over-sized spaces with easy pull-through access and 50-100 amp electrical pedestals, bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities, convenient Wi-Fi access, 100 heated storage units, 10 cabins, outdoor fire pits and jacuzzis, putting and chipping greens, horseshoe pits and dog friendly areas. Each RV space will be large enough to handle the slideouts of today’s largest recreational vehicles. RV spaces will be available for short- and long-term rentals.

The approved location for the RV resort is adjacent to the Carson National Forest and the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. With frontage access to U.S. Highway 64, it provides guests with convenient proximity to the wide array of outdoor recreation amenities in Angel Fire, including golf, skiing, horseback riding, cycling, hiking, snowmobiling and fishing.

The RV resort will also have its own private access to Carson National Forest, where visitors can bike, hike and snowmobile. The resort is seeking permits for ATV trails with the US Forest Service.

“Taken together with the new Angel Fire Resort Golf & Country Club, and the extensive renovations to the Lodge at Angel Fire, this new RV resort adds considerable momentum to Angel Fire’s position as a premier family vacation destination in the Rocky Mountains,” said Rakes.

August 11, 2011 by RVBusiness · Comments Off on Jensen Out to Build ‘New Generation’ RV Park

Groundbreaking for a new luxury RV park in Port Lavaca, Texas, has commenced.

The gated Texas Lakeside RV Resort, located midway between Houston and Corpus Christi and just inland from the Gulf Coast, will feature over 94 sites in the first phase of development, according to a news release.

A 4,000-square-foot clubhouse with an essentials store, exercise room, media area and pool tables will be the center hub of the community. A stocked fishing lake, a swimming pool and hot tub, a walking and jogging track, and several picnic areas and dog runs lead the list of the park’s highlights. Private restrooms and showers, security cameras, 2 laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi and satellite TV are some of the many amenities.

The fully-fenced and gated resort will feature 24-foot-wide concrete roads leading to extra wide and long concrete RV pads that include a small yard space.

In the last few years developer Doug Jensen has traveled the state of Texas, speaking with RV park residents, managers and owners. His goal was to discover the most-wanted features and seek out bright ideas that would could help build “a new generation” RV park. Additionally, the staff of Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) has provided essential insight to the project.

“This RV park has been engineered and designed with all campers in mind. The resort has been built to achieve the highest ratings from both Good Sam’s and Woodall’s,” Jensen stated. “I’m excited that it’s going to help more people discover that Port Lavaca is a great little seaside town with a lot to offer everyone.”

Initial waterfront and back-in sites should be open by November. All sites will have full hook-ups with water, electric and sewer.

For additional information on Texas Lakeside RV Resort, please contact Doug Jensen or visit our webpage at www.texaslakesidervresort.com or find us on Facebook.